Equip Disciples

DR Congo - Background Information

Pray for stability in DR Congo. On January 23, 2008, a peace agreement was signed by more than 25 militia groups and governments. Pray that the militia groups will disarm peaceably and give rest to the war weary North and South Kivu provinces. There are currently about 800,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in North Kivu alone, a number of these on the outskirts of the Goma the capital, where we held a leadership conference this Summer.

On August 28, war broke out once again in eastern Congo. The conflict has finally surfaced on a regular basis in the international media. To assist in understanding the complex situation, here are the main players in the power struggle:

1. "Rebel" forces under Laurent Nkunda = CNDP (National Congress for the Defense of the People). Tutsi tribe, the tribe that is currently in power in Rwanda.
2. Hutu militia = FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda). The militia that carried out the Rwandan genocide in 1994 fled and remain in Congo. Sometimes work with government troops.
3. Mai Mai "pro-government" militia. Heavily involved in traditional African religious witchcraft practices.
4. Government forces = FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo). Most of the troops are former militia members.
5. UN peacekeepers = MONUC (Mission of the United Nations Organisation in Congo). 17,000 strong, with 3,000 more troops newly authorized.

And there are other militia groups. All of the armed forces have committed war crimes. While the UN forces are the cleanest, they have also been ineffective.

News - Current Events

Christian Bikers Bike for Bibles

Christian Bikers in Scotland are raising funds for motorbikes and Bibles for distribution in Congo. 08/26/08

Pushing for Progress towards Peace

UN representative visits Goma and urges militia leaders to carry through with peace accord. 08/20/08

Grim Statistics for Congo

Survey of last 15-year nightmare in North Kivu and other provinces is sobering. See also alternative write-up or read the complete original study. 08/19/08

Threat of renewed violence

Groups said to be re-arming in the east. 08/01/08

Nkunda claims he wants peace

Tutsi leader says no dealings in minerals. 05/28/08

Rise in Spontaneous IDP Sites

North Kivu - more than 857,000 IDPs and more people being displaced all the time. 05/28/08

Some progress since the peace deal in January

Since the January peace deal and the agreement to pursue the FDLR, fighting has decreased in the Kivus, although human rights and the humanitarian situation have not improved. 05/08

FDLR child soldiers

These child soldiers have been bred on hatred for the current Tutsi dominated government of Rwanda. Their parents may have fled Rwanda after the genocide, or they may have been born in Congo. 05/08

Outlawing accusations against child witches

Audio report on the problem facing many street children in Congo: they have been driven out of their homes accused of being witches. Families often use this accusation to reduce the number of mouths they feed. Report is from Kinshasa, the capital, which is far away from eastern Congo where we are going; the actual problem is pervasive throughout Congo--including in the east. 03/08

Horror of Congo's forgotten war

TV report on North and South Kivu and the horrors resulting from 14 years of war in eastern Congo. This is the region we are headed to, although the report focuses on the issues in the countryside where the militias terrorize villages, not in the city. We will be in Goma, the capital of North Kivu. This report is a cumulative report of long term problems, and does not recognize recent positive trends. 03/27/08

AIDS and TB co-occur in Congo

03/25/08

Egg project feeds refugees

03/25/08

The Greatest Silence: Rape In The Congo

A chilling documentary chronicling the endemic sexual assault of women and girls in the DRC, will makes its broadcast debut April 8 on HBO. 03/17/08

UN Security Council demands that rebels disarm

FDLR militia who fled to Congo from Rwanda in 1994 after committing genocide must disarm. 03/13/08

Nkunda rejoins peace process

After a brief boycott to make a political point, Nkunda rejoins the peace implementation process. 03/04/08

Progress in implementing peace deal

UN representative welcomes progress. 02/11/08

5.4 million dead, 40,000 die each month due to effects of war

Report analyzes death toll since outbreak of the 1998 war. 01/22/08

01/23/2008 Peace deal signed

More than 20 rebel groups and several governments signed peace deal in Goma after several weeks of wrangling in peace conference. 01/23/08

Societal Issues

UNHCR Refugees magazine

Issue devoted mostly to Congo, several articles covering different issues. 01/07

Sexual violence in war

Blog on recent UN conference on women targeted by armed groups.

Rescuing Child Soldiers

Report from Save the Children in Goma rescuing children and seeking to help them reintegrate. You can also listen to the interview (mp3). See also an additional related report that provides many historical resources as well.

Controlled Logging

Use of Pygmies and GPS units to mark trees. See additional article on logging. 05/27/08

The roots of war in Eastern Congo

More detailed history of the conflict in Eastern Congo, listing several of the militias and armies that have been involved, and giving some sense of the fluid dynamics. 05/08

Forever in chains: The tragic history of Congo

Concise history of Congo from 19th century through 2006 election. 05/08

One dead gorilla is news – a guerrilla war is not

Discussion of why there is so little news about ongoing conflict in Congo. 05/08

Conflict in Congo

Summary of current situation with links to recent news on the conflict and needs of Congo.

The Greatest Silence: Rape In The Congo

A chilling documentary chronicling the endemic sexual assault of women and girls in the DRC, will makes its broadcast debut April 8 on HBO. 03/17/08

AIDS and TB co-occur in Congo

03/25/08

Enslaved Pygmies in the Congo

Pygmies have traditionally been viewed as subhuman, so their enslavement is often tolerated. Progress is being made in freeing them from slavery. 03/06/08